Imagine farmers tilling fields. These fields surround what is now Colonia Ticomán. This area was once a pre-Classic Mesoamerican village. It stood on the northwest bank of Lake Texcoco.
Welcome to Colonia Ticomán. It is located in the Gustavo A. Madero area of Mexico City. Ticomán’s history stretches back centuries. Its original settlers may have been Otomi people. They lived here around the same time as people in Tlatilco and Cuicuilco.
Ticomán gives us clues about early life in Mesoamerica. Archaeological finds show that Ticomán society was stratified. Yet it was organized under a chiefdom. Franz Boas explored the Ticomán site. His work helped create a timeline for the Valley of Mexico’s Preclassic period.
Pottery styles found in Ticomán have turned up elsewhere. These include Temamatla and the Mezquital Valley. Experts like Ramírez suggest this pottery is Otomi. Its style is like Coyotlatelco pottery. This suggests Coyotlatelco pottery might also be Otomi. Diverse groups may have made it.
Ticomán was an agricultural village. It shows early steps toward organized states in Mesoamerica. Evidence suggests social ranking. Yet the people lived under a chief.
Nearby villages included Tlatilco and Zacatenco. The name Ticomán comes from Tepecoma or Tecota. This means handmade hill. The church La Purísima Concepción is in Ticomán. It is often called La Purísima. This church connects to the old town of Ticomán.
The Ticomán archaeological digs are among the oldest in Mexico City. Civilizations lived here about 2500 years ago. This was the pre-Classic period. They were contemporaries of Cuicuilco.
The church was likely finished in 1590. In 1761, Franciscans handed the chapel to secular priests. It was used for the next 200 years.
By the late 20th century the church was almost ruined. It needed complete restoration. During reconstruction, workers found colonial-era burials. The atrium is not original. However, some traces of it remain. It stands as a remarkable structure.
Ticomán Avenue is a major road here. It divides Lindavista colony neighborhoods. It leads to the Indios Verdes subway station.
Today Colonia Ticomán is a vibrant part of Mexico City. It blends ancient history with modern life. The archaeological site is a reminder of the area’s long past. The church La Purísima stands as a testament to faith and history.